What is a myocardial perfusion imaging test?

A Myocardial Perfusion Imaging test (MIBI) shows how well blood flows through or perfuses your heart. It can show both the areas of the heart muscle that aren’t getting enough blood flow and how well the heart is pumping. This test is also known as a nuclear stress test.

The test uses a small amount of a radioactive material tracer. Tracers mix with your blood and are taken up by your heart muscle. A special ‘gamma’ camera takes pictures of your heart to show how well your heart muscle is perfused or supplied with blood.

The MIBI test takes place on two separate days. It examines blood flow through your heart during exercise on the first day and at rest on the second day.

A physician will lead you through your stress test and you will be closely monitored while you walk on a treadmill. If you can’t exercise well, you may be given a medication to increase the blood flow to your heart muscle as if you were exercising.

At MIC, our Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Test includes a measurement of ejection fraction or the amount of blood pumped out of the heart during each heartbeat (contraction). This allows us to evaluate both myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function in one exam.

Our radiologist will assess the pictures and information generated when you are exercising and when you are rest to determine if your heart muscle is getting enough blood, or if blood flow is reduced due to narrowed arteries. The MIBI can also show if you have previously had a heart attack or whether a heart procedure to improve blood flow such as a stent or bypass is working.